Home alarm systems?
#122
Sweet!
iTrader: (1)
What can I say, I'm a penny pincher.
It's not a matter of affordability. It's a matter of if it makes sense. And it's not so much the $11/month, but the initial investment of whatever equipment I need to purchase too if I'm unable to re-use what I have. If I have to buy new equipment, I want to do it right
It's not a matter of affordability. It's a matter of if it makes sense. And it's not so much the $11/month, but the initial investment of whatever equipment I need to purchase too if I'm unable to re-use what I have. If I have to buy new equipment, I want to do it right
#123
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (5)
^ I am the same way. It's funny b/c my wife will break my chops b/c I'll go to the track and spend $200 on tires w/o even thinking, but when it comes to spending around the same for a home alarm (which gives us a homeowner's discount and protects us), I pinch pennies.
Then a home on the back side of the neighborhood got broken into. Not very common here and even though it was on the opposite side of the neighborhood near an entrance, it got me thinking. So we just did it in pieces. Got the alarm from SimpliSafe (penny pinching still in affect as I bought a refurb from them) last year, then bought the Arlo cameras this year. So those combined with some cameras we already had made for a pretty good setup.
When I heard that the burglars were in the house for under 10 min and got ~$20k worth of stuff I figured a few hundred dollars was a drop in the bucket...
Then a home on the back side of the neighborhood got broken into. Not very common here and even though it was on the opposite side of the neighborhood near an entrance, it got me thinking. So we just did it in pieces. Got the alarm from SimpliSafe (penny pinching still in affect as I bought a refurb from them) last year, then bought the Arlo cameras this year. So those combined with some cameras we already had made for a pretty good setup.
When I heard that the burglars were in the house for under 10 min and got ~$20k worth of stuff I figured a few hundred dollars was a drop in the bucket...
#124
Sweet!
iTrader: (1)
When I looked into an alarm at our old house, we needed to get a permit from the city and it was something like $120 /yr. This was the "fee" for having your house on record as having a monitored alarm system with contact information for various parties if the owner cannot be reached. This fee did not include any allowance for false alarms, which were also not cheap. I need to see if where we are now has anything similar. In fact, I may call the city now...
I think what I may do is research monitoring companies and see what I can get. I know I can buy a cellular adapter for my alarm system. That way we'll have something.
#125
Sweet!
iTrader: (1)
So the city I currently live in doesn't charge anything for a monitored alarm system and they don't need me to submit any information.
I came across this gem: http://www.alarmmonitoringservices.c...ge/6621460.htm
Should I do it?
I came across this gem: http://www.alarmmonitoringservices.c...ge/6621460.htm
Should I do it?
#126
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
Yeah, that's a good point.
When I looked into an alarm at our old house, we needed to get a permit from the city and it was something like $120 /yr. This was the "fee" for having your house on record as having a monitored alarm system with contact information for various parties if the owner cannot be reached. This fee did not include any allowance for false alarms, which were also not cheap. I need to see if where we are now has anything similar. In fact, I may call the city now...
I think what I may do is research monitoring companies and see what I can get. I know I can buy a cellular adapter for my alarm system. That way we'll have something.
When I looked into an alarm at our old house, we needed to get a permit from the city and it was something like $120 /yr. This was the "fee" for having your house on record as having a monitored alarm system with contact information for various parties if the owner cannot be reached. This fee did not include any allowance for false alarms, which were also not cheap. I need to see if where we are now has anything similar. In fact, I may call the city now...
I think what I may do is research monitoring companies and see what I can get. I know I can buy a cellular adapter for my alarm system. That way we'll have something.
#129
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
The last time it triggered the paramedics.
#130
Sweet!
iTrader: (1)
Where I live now I don't even need to tell the PD that I have a monitored alarm. They don't seem to care.
I think I want to do this. I found GEOARM® - DIY Security Systems & Alarm Monitoring which seems to have decent reviews. I'd just need to buy a cellular adapter and then pay them ~$15 /month.
I think I want to do this. I found GEOARM® - DIY Security Systems & Alarm Monitoring which seems to have decent reviews. I'd just need to buy a cellular adapter and then pay them ~$15 /month.
#131
Team Owner
So I bought the SimpliSafe alarm system and have had it for 3 months.
Man setup was a breeze. It's literally sticking double sided tape to your wall, setup the base station using your computer, and alarm set.
The mobile app is also very useful. I can't live without mobile app feature now.
And all for $25/month ($15/month without mobile app control).
Man setup was a breeze. It's literally sticking double sided tape to your wall, setup the base station using your computer, and alarm set.
The mobile app is also very useful. I can't live without mobile app feature now.
And all for $25/month ($15/month without mobile app control).
Our Biggest Deal Ever | Alarm Systems
#132
Team Owner
Yeah, it's a great system. Right now we're using them indoors b/c we have some hardwired cameras outside and in the garage. But I don't have them mounted so I can just move them wherever I want whenever I want.
The whole Arlo system is wireless, so it's easy to move them around. They're powered by those small batteries (they're a bit smaller then AAA batteries, but fatter) so you can litereally mount them anywhere and move them at any time. When we go out we set them to motion so they only record when they see motion. When we're home we have them on manual so I can control it. Doing it that way the batteries should last about a year...
The whole Arlo system is wireless, so it's easy to move them around. They're powered by those small batteries (they're a bit smaller then AAA batteries, but fatter) so you can litereally mount them anywhere and move them at any time. When we go out we set them to motion so they only record when they see motion. When we're home we have them on manual so I can control it. Doing it that way the batteries should last about a year...
#133
Moderator
Do you still use them? No contract, $200 equipment cost, and $25/mo sounds like the best deal for me. I called Frontpoint and they want $167, $45/mo, 3 year deal. I think they offered an extra motion sensor so meh.
Our Biggest Deal Ever | Alarm Systems
Our Biggest Deal Ever | Alarm Systems
My buddy got a SimpliSafe with the $20/month plan because he has roommates and it didn't make sense for him to arm at work when he doesn't know exactly when his roommates will be home.
#135
Moderator
But yes, the app will let you know whether it's armed/disarmed and also timestamp of arm/disarm.
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Doom878 (01-20-2016)
#138
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (5)
It is good... HD resolution and the app is super easy to use. I just use my phone to arm it, then disarm it right before I walk in so I don't get a ton of emails that motion was detected. We actually just added a 4th camera a couple of months ago (you can have up to 5 on the free plan).
The combination of SimpliSafe and Arlo has worked very well for us... especially since we seem to get false alarm from the SimpliSafe once in a while. Having redundant systems I am able to check to see if Arlo has emailed me about motion, or if available, just log onto the app and check the feed. I figure if one falses and the other doesn't alert, I'm OK. If they both alert, time to send in 5-0
The combination of SimpliSafe and Arlo has worked very well for us... especially since we seem to get false alarm from the SimpliSafe once in a while. Having redundant systems I am able to check to see if Arlo has emailed me about motion, or if available, just log onto the app and check the feed. I figure if one falses and the other doesn't alert, I'm OK. If they both alert, time to send in 5-0
#140
Team Owner
So I signed up for Comcast cable/internet for my new house and their triple play for $10 more can be alarm monitoring. It has cellular backup, key pad, 1 sensor, and 3 door sensors which works out good for my house. $99 install spread over 6 bills. Entire package has a 2 year contract.
#141
Team Owner
So frontpoint came at me with this:
Door or Window Sensor x5 $32.99 $164.95
Motion Sensor x2 $64.99 $129.98
Glass Break Sensor x1 $74.99 $74.99
Smoke and Heat Sensor x1 $64.99 $64.99
Simon XT Control Panel x1 $238.99 $238.99
Radio x1 $0.00 $0.00
Sub-Total $673.90
Shipping FREE!
(-) Discount ($573.95)
Grand Total
$99.95
I told them my monthly with Comcast is only $10 so let's see what they say.
Door or Window Sensor x5 $32.99 $164.95
Motion Sensor x2 $64.99 $129.98
Glass Break Sensor x1 $74.99 $74.99
Smoke and Heat Sensor x1 $64.99 $64.99
Simon XT Control Panel x1 $238.99 $238.99
Radio x1 $0.00 $0.00
Sub-Total $673.90
Shipping FREE!
(-) Discount ($573.95)
Grand Total
$99.95
I told them my monthly with Comcast is only $10 so let's see what they say.
#142
Team Owner
So I signed up for Comcast cable/internet for my new house and their triple play for $10 more can be alarm monitoring. It has cellular backup, key pad, 1 sensor, and 3 door sensors which works out good for my house. $99 install spread over 6 bills. Entire package has a 2 year contract.
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